Vestry Meeting

September 22, 2009 Vestry Meeting

Present: Judy Haines, Eleanor Peckham, Ian McGreevy, Donna Seniff, Darren Andrews, Joanna Rizzo, Fr. Tom, Fr. Tommy, Nancy Hennessey, Eileen Weber Rachel Querry, Dan Lajewski, Waymon Wright, Jacci Rizzo, and Denise Parker.

Excused: Jim Cox and Dunbar Ashbury

Fr. Tom called the meeting to order at 7pm.

Fr. Tom drew the Vestry’s attention to some words left written down from last night’s EFM meeting. Fr. Tom reflected on the phrases: Thank you God for all that has been and more. Fr. Tom indicated that he will use that for our closing prayer.

The approval of the minutes was postponed.

Update on Nancy’s Discernment

Janet McCrudy provided an update on behalf of Nancy’s Discernment committee. The others on the committee include Helen Purcy, Nancy Delatush, Jonathan Gambill, Connie Devilbiss and Mark Gibson. The group has met with Nancy every month over the past year. The committee members attended diocesan training for members of discernment committees. They have used the book “Listening Hearts: Discerning Call in Community” as a guide.

Janet reported that Nancy shared with the committee that while she feels called to the ordained ministry, she also loves being senior warden and feels called to continue as senior warden for the next year while continuing the discernment process.

Janet noted that the committee supports that decision. The committee is preparing a report to the diocese and a letter recommending that Nancy continue to the next step, which is Finding Your Way. Nancy intends to apply to that program and then apply to take a year off. The committee would like to continue to support Nancy throughout the next year.

Fr. Tom is pleased that Nancy would like to continue as senior warden.

A motion was made that the Vestry of All Saints resolves to, both spiritually and financially, support and endorse Nancy Hennessey’s journey through the discernment process toward ordination. The motion was seconded and approved.

Feedback and Reflection on Vestry Retreat

Fr. Tom asked for feedback on the Vestry retreat. Several people expressed concern about the limited nature of the discussion about the budget and staffing issues.

Fr. Tom noted that he plans to develop a plan and a vision for the staff over the next year. A part time clergy position is a possibility. Tracy Boyd will be leaving the staff at the end of October. She will probably take a sabbatical from the Communications committee to provide some distance from her staff position. Fr. Tom will be discussing reshaping the responsibilities of the position.

Dan liked the flow of the meeting and the understanding that we were in prayer throughout the meeting. Denise appreciated Jen’s role in remaining silent and noted the power of her prayers.

Nancy appreciated the open and loving discussion and the relationships among the Vestry members. Fr. Tom noted that we have created a safe place for people to share their thoughts. Denise thanked Nancy for her leadership.

Donna liked the poster exercise and noted how similar everyone’s results were in terms of expressing what we love about All Saints.

Fr. Tom noted Sharon’s leadership of stewardship. She has a clear vision of stewardship and has grown into her role as stewardship chair at All Saints.

Treasurer’s Report

Eileen and Eleanor are responsible for making deposits in October.

Dunbar handed out the treasurer’s report. Regarding the Wisner Estate, before the end of the year we will receive $600,000 in additional disbursements. We will receive about $300,000 within the next two weeks.

The field work of the audit committee of 2008 report will be complete on October 15 and will have a meeting to put together the report. They are meeting at 7:45 on Sunday morning. Others are working at other times. One member resigned but someone else agreed to pick up their piece.

Endowed Episcopal Churches intends to do a survey of parishes. We hope to be able to compare ourselves to other endowed parishes.

The financial statement is better than last month’s. Pledge and plate income is over budget. Other income items are significantly under budget.

We will incur $6750 in additional income expense by the end of the year because the rectory has not sold.

$44,572 is our actual deficit as of the end of August. We expect the deficit to improve by the end of the year.

Ian is wondering what we are doing to generate interest in renting our facilities. Fr. Tom indicated that it is part of Katie’s responsibilities. Katie has joined a registry to make couples more aware of our facilities for weddings.

Are there people in the congregation who could help us think more creatively about how we could use our space.

Do we want to host the Shakespeare event? Fr. Tom and Katie went to the open meeting that the city hosted. Rotary is here for another year. Budget and Finance is discussing use of facilities, including possible partnership with a caterer. Buildings and Grounds has also discussed possibly approving a few caterers who could use the facility.

The Shakespeare festival is looking for space for October, November and January dates. They offer training for actors and have performances the next days. There are no elaborate sets or costumes.

Fr. Tom and Nancy indicated that some people will believe that performing arts is not an appropriate use of the church.

Motion made and seconded to endorse the Maryland Shakespeare Festival to come to All Saints. The motion was approved.

Senior Warden’s Report

Dunbar and Jen Mariano will serve as outgoing Vestry members on the Nominating committee. Nancy welcomes three to four other members. Outgoing Vestry members are encouraged to meet with the committee about their future role with the Church.

Mark would like feedback on the communications manual the week before the October meeting. October 20 is the deadline to give Mark feedback.

Junior Warden’s Report

Date for the Buildings and Grounds tour is October 4 at 12:30.

Rector’s Report

Katie is soliciting bids in many areas, including insurance, exterminators and copiers and working to establish a schedule for reviewing those contracts. The humidity in the building is down. Carroll Howe is happy. The remaining chairs have been thoroughly cleaned.

Seven people from the staff did the CPR/AED training. Our goal is to have 30 people trained. We have 12 spaces on October 17. Please let the office know if you want to reserve a spot. It was beneficial training and a good team building exercise for staff.

This weekend is Ana Hernandez’s visit. There is a workshop on Friday at St. Alban’s in Washington. Several people from All Saints are going, including Carroll Howe, Lynn and Fr. Tom.

Committee Reports

Personnel

Of the $5000 gift from ERUCC, the committee recommends that $2500 be given to a local charity in the name of All Saints and ERUCC. The other amount would go into a fund for our lay employees to attend workshops and trainings after they have applied for diocesan funds.

Judy made a motion to approve the recommendation. Darren seconded.

Fr. Tom endorses the recommendation. This would establish a fund, which could be added to, for staff professional development. Dan noted that Frederick Community College will provide customized training on technical skills. Dan suggests that we coordinate with Outreach to determine, in cooperation with ERUCC, the designated charity. Waymon spoke against the resolution.

Others spoke in favor of or in opposition to th e proposal since it is different from what we discussed originally.

The motion was voted on and defeated.

Ian made a motion that the $5000 be kept aside to help with the proposal to contract with Heavy Timber. Eleanor seconded it. Donna does not think that we should vote on this decision tonight. Donna called the question. The motion was defeated.

Donna proposed that we contemplate in prayer the gift and before the next meeting that ideas be submitted so that they can be considered. Waymon seconded. Denise offered a friendly amendment to wait until the end of the year to decide. Waymon seconded. The motion carried.

Job descriptions are done.

Budget and Finance

Attendance is down. Income was looking better in August. We have paid over $100,000 in debt this year. We owe $1.46 million. The next meeting is Oct. 19.

Rector’s Development

This committee is meeting the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30. Have invited Donna Seniff to participate and have extended two invitations.

Strategic Planning/Parish Council

Working together all summer and early fall for listening and learning sessions.

Nancy met with Thelma Smullen. She will facilitate the mutual ministry review, which will include the leadership – clergy, vestry and parish council. It will be held November 15 following the services.

Communications

The key focus of the committee is the Hernandez visit. They are designing stewardship materials and promoting the California Guitar Treo. Online activities are continuing, including electronic newsletters. There are also ongoing outreach efforts to local media. The committee has requests from two other ministries for communications support.

Executive Committee

The committee met with Pastor Banks from the First Love congregation.

Stewardship – no additional report

Investment – no report

Buildings and Grounds

We spent about $3800 on air conditioning, and expect an additional cost. Dan noted that First Love is maintaining the St. Barnabas property very well.

Memorials – Fr. Tom is still working on staffing for this committee.

Ad Hoc Committees

Within the next month we may need to consider by laws.

Options – The rectory is on the market. A couple of people have looked at the property.

New Business

Robin Taylor has an opportunity to go to Jerusalem. There is some funding available but she needs additional funding. There was agreement to get more information about her specific needs.

Old Business

There was discussion about the status of the nametags.

It was also noted that the firedoors are not always closed. We have two historic buildings with no sprinkler systems so this is very important to remember to do when closing the buildings.

Closing

The Vestry went to the Historic Church and Fr. Tom informed us that today is the 100 th anniversary of the death of Rev. Osborne Ingle, who was rector of All Saints from 1866 until his death in 1909. The pulpit in the Historic Church stands as a memorial to Rev. Ingle’s son, who served as Bishop of Hankow, China and died there while his father recovered from surgery in Baltimore.

Respectfully submitted,
Rachel Querry
Registrar